Since Ancient time the silver coin has played a major role in trade business. Silver was actually the biggest part of trade in early civilizations such as Sumer and Egypt. Silver was the principal medal for trade also in the Far East. The concept of coinage was spread by Alexander the Great through the lands that he conquered.
Silver coins were an essential way that he and Phillip II paid their armies and military expenses. The Romans used silver coins to pay off their legions, and they also used these coins throughout their daily transactions. Silver coins do help us understand the history of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The first currency where silver was used was back in 1828. Silver coins come in many different designs. Although the Coinage Act of 1792 made the dollar the standard monetary unit, the silver coin is still a very valuable thing to collect.
The silver coin was hand crafted by a craftsmen who worked with precious metals. For the American silversmith to obtain raw materials was difficult. He had to either purchase silver bars or melt silver coins. Silversmiths also bought the materials from the public. This also helps to explain how rare and different each piece was back in 1859 when this was going on. Not one piece of silver was the same, they were all unique. Although the silver dollar never quite became as popular as people had hoped, silver was still used on a daily basis as currency.
